'That female must be attractive, otherwise it is not much use': the Dalai Lama's controversial comments

UpdatedSeptember 24, 2015 — 9.36amfirst published at 9.32am

For many, the Dalai Lama is the embodiment of enlightened, measured thought.

So it is no surprise that the 80-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader has said that a woman would make a good successor.

Serious? the Dalai Lama.Credit:Nicky Loh

"The female has biologically more potential to show affection ... and compassion," he told BBC's Clive Myrie.

"In today's world there is a lot of trouble - it is a troubled world. I think female should take a more important role."

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So far, so good.

Until the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama added a qualification.

"If a female Dalai comes, the face should be very attractive," he told a clearly startled Myrie.

"So you can only have a female Dalai Lama, if they are attractive," asks Myrie, after laughing awkwardly, "is that what you're saying?"

"That female must be attractive, otherwise it is not much use," the Tibetan confirms.

"Really?" presses Myrie, in disbelief. "You are joking, I am assuming. Or you're not joking?"

"It's true," the Dalai Lama replies.

Earlier this year, the Dalai Lama shocked the world with comments that he would like to be reincarnated as a "mischievous blonde woman" but that "her face must be very attractive" or "nobody pay much attention".

The Dalai Lama, whose real name is Tenzin Gyatso and who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, will wait until he is 90 to decide, with other Buddhist leaders, whether a successor or 'reincarnation' will take his place.

In 2013 he said he would be pleased if a woman took his place and told reporters: "I call myself a feminist".

Given his comments about women, not everyone agrees.

"You'd think that as someone who's all about learning and enlightenment he'd have figured a few things out," read one posting on the feminist blog Jezebel.com.

Another added: "I had hoped for so much more from him - in the end, yet another patriarch".

Others however seemed to think it was a 'dad joke' gone wrong.

"I can't watch the video but the part about attractiveness seems a bit like a dad joke gone wrong," one reader wrote. "Like 'of course she'd have to be pretty! After all, the only reason I've done so well is because of how hot I am!' *dad chuckle*."